John 12:1-2.
Celebration time. Jesus and Lazarus. Must have had a great conversation at the table. In the middle of this walks in Mary with the perfume and worships Jesus extravagently.
How did she know about His upcoming death? He told His disciples but none of them ever caught on before it happened. (I wonder if she sensed something in Jesus...Jane's thought).
Lazarus was a walking testimony. Must have been a very special dinner for Jesus.
Luke 19:28-35.
Between 2 and 3 million visitors traveled to Jerusalem for Passover.
Which disciples got the donkey? Interesting thought....
Zechariah 9;9. Fulfillment of prophecy.
Bethany to Jerusalem known as The King's Road.
He was coming as a normal king arrives. A conquering king would ride on a white charger. He came on a donkey. Jesus was Himself, but everyone saw what they wanted to see. Power of suggestion is huge.The people were looking for the conquering hero -- the hero who would overthrow Rome.
Town waiting with huge energy and excitement for Jesus to arrive -- maybe He is their answer.
John 12:12..
What did Jesus see?
His disciples (Hey, yeah, he's finally getting what he deserves! This is what we knew he'd get someday.)
But Jesus wept.
He saw the pharisees. Luke 19:39.
They want Him and everyone else to be quiet. This isn't how they ought to be arriving for Passover. They didn't want Jesus around.They were losing control of the crowds. He didn't fit their script of how rabbit should act!
Roman solders. They were there guarding,keeping order. They didn't care what they did as long as they kept to themselves and didn't trample Roman law or offend roman government.
The crowd -- they thought they were finally getting what they wanted.He could be their savior if he did what they thought a savior should doo.
What does Jesus see when He looks at you and me?
A disciple who is following Him but has no clue what Jesus really meant?
A Pharisee who wants to control God, who wants God to stay in a box and obey the pharisee's rules.
A Roman who doesn't care as long as Rome gets first place.
Or Mary -- the one who, in the midst of it all, worshipped Him not caring what anyone thought.